Despite a sharp bounce in the polls for Barack Obama following his European tour – he shot up to a nine-point lead in the Gallup tracking poll and a six-point lead in the Rasmussen tracking poll – he is now doing no better, or even worse, than before his trip. Obama is now only one point ahead of McCain in the Gallup poll (which tracks registered voters), and two points ahead in the Rasmussen poll (which tracks likely voters).

In addition, Obama has lost ground is several key swing states – including Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida.